SCENE III.[4058

[_Enter_] WELLBORN, _and_ MARRALL [_bareheaded_].

_Well._ I think I am in a good way.

_Mar._ Good! Sir, the best way, The certain best way.

_Well._ There are casualties That men are subject to.

_Mar._ You are above ’em; And as you are already worshipful, I hope ere long you will increase in worship, 5 And be right worshipful.

_Well._ Prithee do not flout me: What I shall be, I shall be. Is ’t for your ease, You keep your hat off?

_Mar._ Ease! an it like your worship! I hope Jack Marrall shall not live so long, To prove himself such an unmannerly beast, 10 Though it hail hazel-nuts, as to be cover’d When your worship ’s present.

_Well._ (_Aside._) Is not this a true rogue, That, out of mere hope of a future coz’nage,[4059] Can turn thus suddenly? ’T is rank already.

_Mar._ I know your worship’s wise, and needs no counsel, 15 Yet if, in my desire to do you service, I humbly offer my advice, (but still Under correction,) I hope I shall not Incur your high displeasure.

_Well._ No; speak freely.

_Mar._ Then, in my judgment, sir, my simple judgment, 20 (Still with your worship’s favour,) I could wish you A better habit, for this cannot be But much distasteful to the noble lady (I say no more) that loves you; for, this morning, To me, and I am but a swine to her, 25 Before th’ assurance of her wealth perfum’d you, You savour’d not of amber.[4060]

_Well._ I do now then!

_Mar._ This your batoon hath got a touch of it.—— _Kisses the end of his cudgel._ Yet, if you please, for change, I have twenty pounds here, Which, out of my true love, I ’ll presently 30 Lay down at your worship’s feet; ’t will serve to buy you A riding suit.

_Well._ But where ’s the horse?

_Mar._ My gelding Is at your service; nay, you shall ride me, Before your worship shall be put to the trouble To walk afoot. Alas, when you are lord 35 Of this lady’s manor, as I know you will be, You may with the lease of glebe land, called Knave’s-acre, A place I would manure,[4061] requite your vassal.

_Well._ I thank thy love, but must make no use of it; What ’s twenty pounds?

_Mar._ ’T is all that I can make, sir. 40

_Well._ Dost thou think, though I want clothes, I could not have ’em, For one word to my lady?

_Mar._ As I know not that!

_Well._ Come, I will tell thee a secret, and so leave thee. I will not give her the advantage, though she be A gallant-minded lady, after we are married, 45 (There being no woman but is sometimes froward,) To hit me in the teeth, and say, she was forc’d To buy my wedding-clothes, and took me on With a plain riding-suit, and an ambling nag. No, I ’ll be furnish’d something like myself, 50 And so farewell: for thy suit touching Knave’s-acre, When it is mine, ’t is thine.

_Mar._ I thank your worship. _Exit_ WELL. How was I cozen’d[4062] in the calculation Of this man’s fortune! My master cozen’d too, Whose pupil I am in the art of undoing men; 55 For that is our profession! Well, well, Master Wellborn, You are of a sweet nature, and fit again to be cheated: Which, if the Fates please, when you are possess’d Of the land and lady, you, sans question, shall be. I ’ll presently think of the means. _Walks by, musing._

_Enter_ OVERREACH, [_speaking to a_ Servant _within._]

_Over._ Sirrah, take my horse, 60 I ’ll walk to get me an appetite; ’t is but a mile, And exercise will keep me from being pursy.[4063] Ha! Marrall! Is he conjuring? Perhaps The knave has wrought the prodigal to do Some outrage on himself, and now he feels 65 Compunction in his conscience for ’t: no matter. So it be done. Marrall!

_Mar._ Sir.

_Over._ How succeed we In our plot on Wellborn?

_Mar._ Never better, sir.

_Over._ Has he hang’d or drown’d himself?

_Mar._ No, sir, he lives; Lives once more to be made a prey to you, 70 A greater prey than ever.

_Over._ Art thou in thy wits? If thou art, reveal this miracle, and briefly.

_Mar._ A lady, sir, is fall’n in love with him.

_Over._ With him? What lady?

_Mar._ The rich Lady Allworth.

_Over._ Thou dolt! how dar’st thou speak this?

_Mar._ I speak truth; 75 And I do so but once a year, unless It be to you, sir. We din’d with her ladyship, I thank his worship.

_Over._ His worship!

_Mar._ As I live, sir, I din’d with him, at the great lady’s table, Simple as I stand here; and saw when she kiss’d him, 80 And would, at his request, have kiss’d me too: But I was not so audacious as some youths are, That dare do anything, be it ne’er so absurd, And sad after performance.

_Over._ Why, thou rascal! To tell me these impossibilities. 85 Dine at her table! and kiss him! or thee!—— Impudent varlet, have not I myself, To whom great countesses’ doors have oft flew open, Ten times attempted, since her husband’s death, In vain, to see her, though I came—a suitor? And yet your good solicitorship, and rogue Wellborn, 91 Were brought into her presence, feasted with her!—— But that I know thee a dog that cannot blush, This most incredible lie would call up one On thy buttermilk cheeks.

_Mar._ Shall I not trust my eyes, sir, 95 Or taste? I feel her good cheer in my belly.

_Over._ You shall feel me, if you give not over, sirrah: Recover your brains again, and be no more gull’d With a beggar’s plot, assisted by the aids Of serving-men and chambermaids, for beyond these 100 Thou never saw’st a woman, or I ’ll quit you From my employments.

_Mar._ Will you credit this yet? On my confidence of their marriage, I offer’d Wellborn—— (_Aside._) I would give a crown now I durst say “his worship”—— My nag and twenty pounds.

_Over._ Did you so, idiot! (_Strikes him down._) Was this the way to work him to despair, 106 Or rather to cross me?

_Mar._ Will your worship kill me?

_Over._ No, no; but drive the lying spirit out of you.

_Mar._ He ’s gone.

_Over._ I have done then: now, forgetting Your late imaginary feast and lady, 110 Know, my Lord Lovell dines with me to-morrow. Be careful nought be wanting to receive him; And bid my daughter’s women trim her up, Though they paint her, so she catch the lord, I ’ll thank them. There ’s a piece for my late blows.

_Mar._ (_Aside._) I must yet suffer: 115 But there may be a time——

_Over._ Do you grumble?

_Mar._ No, sir. [_Exeunt._]